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Guilford County LEPC

Winter Storm Scenario

Tabletop Exercise (TTX)

January 10th, 2013

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Agenda

• [09:00]: Registration• [09:10]: Welcome, Introductions, and Exercise Overview• [09:20]: Module 1: Situational Awareness• [10:00]: Module 2: Response• [10:45]: Module 3: Recovery• [11:30]: Review and Next Steps

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Welcome and Introductions

• Name• Company• Daily Role

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Administrative

• Phones, pagers, radios• Restrooms• Breaks• Additional resources

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Purpose

• Provide participants the opportunity to evaluate current response concepts, plans, and capabilities for responding to a winter storm event.

• The focus is on key coordination, critical decisions and a self examination on internal polices.

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Exercise Structure

• Three modules:– Module 1: Situational Awareness– Module 2: Response– Module 3: Recovery

• Each comprised of:– Situation Updates– Small group discussions of response issues– Facilitated caucus with presentations from each

group

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Functional Groups

• Agencies Represented in the Exercise are:– Industry

– Public Safety

– Environmental Health

– Emergency management

– Others

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Exercise Guidelines

• This is an open, low-stress, no-fault environment.

• Consider different approaches, and suggest improvements.

• Base responses on the current plans and existing abilities and assets.

• Interact with other participants to answer questions.

• Do not fight the scenario, learn from the discussion

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Assumptions and Artificialities

• The scenario is plausible, and events occur as they are presented.

• There are no hidden agendas or trick questions.• All players receive information at the same time.• Local players should assume that while they are

concentrating on the local response, Federal and State responders are initiating their plans, procedures, and protocols.

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Module 1: Situational Awareness

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Current EventsDecember 23rd, 2013 at 9:00am

• It is the week of Christmas and your facility is operating at reduced capacity.

• Many administrative staff members have taken time off for a vacation this week.

• Part time employees are being used to fill some full time employees who have also taken off for the week.

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Current EventsDecember 23rd, 2013 at 11:45 am

• The National Weather Service issues a Winter Storm Watch in effect beginning tonight at 8:00 pm.

• They are forecasting 10 inches of snow and ¼ inch of ice for the Triad to the Triangle to begin falling Christmas Eve around 4:00 pm beginning as rain, transitioning to freezing rain, then to snow over the evening.

• High temperatures today through December 30 are expected to top out at 33 degrees with lows down to 26 degrees.

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Media CoverageDecember 23rd, 2013 at 5:00 pm

• News 14 is interviewing NCDOT spokesperson about their preparations for the storm and their call back plan.

• Interviews with Duke Power and High Point follow with their plans for staff call backs and what to do if power fails.

• They end with interviews with Guilford County Sheriff about the dangers of driving during wintry conditions.

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Situation Update December 24th at 9:30 am

• The National Weather Service has upgraded the area to an Ice Storm Warning to be in effect at 3:00 pm.

• A mid layer wedge of warm air coupled with an offshore low that is moving into position while temperatures are hovering around 31 degrees is expected to cause massive icing in the area.

• The National Weather Service is forecasting ice accumulations to reach up to a record two (2) inches.

• (Power outages begin to occur at ¼ inch of ice accumulation)

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Situation Update December 24th, 2013 at 12:00 pm

• Duke Power and High Point Electric are on the news stating that wide spread power outages lasting for at least a week in some areas is unavoidable in this scenario.

• Crews will be unable to reach many areas of the County with that much ice on the roadways and lines.

• Duke Power and High Point Electric report that they are having difficulty locating available power crews in the region due to the fact that hazardous weather will impact the state from the mountains to the sandhills.

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Caucus Period

• Questions to discuss:– What are your internal procedures based on this

scenario?

– Who is notified at your facility?

– If the primary people are on vacation, who do you contact?

– What communication plans do you have in place for employees?

– Would you do employee call backs in this event?

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Facilitated Discussion

• Questions to discuss:– What are your internal procedures based on this

scenario?

– Who is notified at your facility?

– If the primary people are on vacation, who do you contact?

– What communication plans do you have in place for employees?

– Would you do employee call backs in this event?

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Module 2: Response

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Situation Update December 25th, 2013 at 8:00 am

• The power is out at your facility and there are two inches of ice on all exterior surfaces. Interior temperatures are at 42 degrees throughout the facility.

• Roads are impassible including interstates.

• Any employees currently at the facility are concerned about the safety of traveling home.

• Employees still at home are calling their supervisors about work schedules. Power is out at their homes as well.

• Power is not expected to be restored until January 2nd, 2014.

• Payday for employees and vendors is December 31st.

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Caucus Period

• Does your facility have supplies and equipment for employees to stay at the facility for 24 hours?

• If you have not already notified your employees of closing status, how would you do so at this point?

• If you have raw materials or products on site, how will an extended power outage and low temps affect their status?

• How will your business matters be conducted during this time?

• Who will be making operational decisions at this point considering some management staff will be unable to return from vacation due to travel issues and flight cancellations?

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Facilitated Discussion

• Does your facility have supplies and equipment for employees to stay at the facility for 24 hours?

• If you have not already notified your employees of closing status, how would you do so at this point?

• If you have raw materials or products on site, how will an extended power outage and low temps affect their status?

• How will your business matters be conducted during this time?

• Who will be making operational decisions at this point considering some management staff will be unable to return from vacation due to travel issues and flight cancellations?

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Module 3: Recovery

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Situation Update January 2nd, 2014 at 5:00 am

• The main roads reopened after sunrise December 27th. Flights to the area resumed December 27th. All roads have been reopened since December 30th.

• Power and telephone lines have been restored at your facility as of 5:00 am today.

• Your facility has not sustained any structural damage.• Your suppliers have begun calling to see if your facility

is open and they will be able to make deliveries.

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Caucus Period

• What recovery efforts will your facility engage in to restart operations?

• Does your facility have written procedures to restart operations?

• If there would be equipment or product failures due to the power outages and cold temperatures, are there provisions to restore operations quickly?

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Facilitated Discussion

• What recovery efforts will your facility engage in to restart operations?

• Does your facility have written procedures to restart operations?

• If there would be equipment or product failures due to the power outages and cold temperatures, are there provisions to restore operations quickly?

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Next Steps

• After Action Report (AAR)

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Closing Comments